Toronto KING Toronto | 57.6m | 16s | Allied | Bjarke Ingels Group

[nightstreak]

No source. Just have seen hundreds of condos present fantastical greenery in renders that is always much more underwhelming in reality. Greenery requires care, watering, pest control. And those renders show several years of growth and imagines owners will have no problems with plants growing haphazardly over their property.

But I’m ready to be corrected if it comes through!

I’m with you on questioning bold claims but what convinces me is that this building was engineered specifically for optimal vegetation growth. I came close to buying a unit and was shown the engineering drawings which included an in depth explanation as to why the blocks are oriented in the direction they are in (for maximum solar exposure). It would have been far simpler, not to mention cheaper, to build all the units facing in one direction. The complexity of this building comes from there not being a repeatable line anywhere. It was all custom engineered and followed to the precise angle. If there were to be some value engineering, it would have occurred at that point.

As for haphazard growth, watering and pest control, I was told that there would be a resident gardener whose only job it is to take care of the plants.

Anyway, this entire doubt can be put to rest if Urban Toronto reaches out to the developers for clarification or if someone with a drone can fly over the already poured concrete on the top levels where we should find tree wells embedded in the terraces.

 

[nightstreak]

I found it! Way back in 2018, my realtor sent us the landscaping studies for the building to reassure us that the vegetation would be maintained.

These plants weren't just for the rendering. The entire building was engineered from the beginning to ensure that vegetation would get optimal solar exposure . I recall that Westbank already had a failed attempt at a vegetation clad building because it was facing the wrong direction and nothing grew on it. They cleared worked hard to ensure that doesn't happen again.

And here we have the detailed terrace planters, made in four dimensions. One of them is a full planter and we can already see some of those without a unit door access.

These three terraces have no unit access and can be used as planting beds for climbing plants. English Ivy can grow 40-50 feet and climbs on anything with less than a smooth surface. The ribbed glass blocks are suitable.

The species study shows how terraces will be used for flowers, trees and other plants that will drape over the sides.

The soffit plantings, grown under the cantilevered projections shown in these renderings....

....appear to be confirmed in what looks like irrigation infrastructure being installed on site.

Finally, the grounds landscaping are pretty straightforward. Just a series of trees along the sidewalk and in the courtyard.

The landscaping was designed by Public Work. If they're still involved, then we're in for a treat.

 

[neuhaus]

The building was computer modelled to simulate the microclimates (sun, wind, precipitation, etc.) for each balcony which determined the appropriate type of plantings. Each planter has plants selected specific for its orientation and location, so the landscape plan for each balcony will be unique. Some terraces have significantly sized planters to maintain privacy between units (vertically and horizontally).
The landscaping is probably the most thought out in any condo building, and not an afterthought like others. Part of the building is characterized by its vegetation so every measure has been taken to ensure the landscaping thrives. It would be a major costly error if they didn’t do these studies as there’s a lot of trees, vines and shrubs that will be planted here.

I remember one of the presentations Ian Gillespie said that you can look up at the building and identify your unit from the trees you have on your terrace. One of my planters will have a flowering tree which I am pretty excited to discover!

 

[nightstreak]

The building was computer modelled to simulate the microclimates (sun, wind, precipitation, etc.) for each balcony which determined the appropriate type of plantings. Each planter has plants selected specific for its orientation and location, so the landscape plan for each balcony will be unique. Some terraces have significantly sized planters to maintain privacy between units (vertically and horizontally).
The landscaping is probably the most thought out in any condo building, and not an afterthought like others. Part of the building is characterized by its vegetation so every measure has been taken to ensure the landscaping thrives. It would be a major costly error if they didn’t do these studies as there’s a lot of trees, vines and shrubs that will be planted here.

I remember one of the presentations Ian Gillespie said that you can look up at the building and identify your unit from the trees you have on your terrace. One of my planters will have a flowering tree which I am pretty excited to discover!

Thanks for the insight. Did they retain the resident gardener? How will they access the terraces? Honestly, that was one of the reasons that I kind of soured on buying there even though the idea of living amongst a lush garden appealed to me. But having someone come through our unit every once in a while to maintain the plants and the perpetual and increasing cost they'd have on our condo fees, worried me. I'd happily care for my own plants but they insisted there'd need to be a gardener.

 

[70Challenger]

The “living skin” of the condo will never materialize. If you don’t like the glass blocks look without ivy, you ain’t gonna like this building.

Tired of this baseless pessimism stated as fact. I heard the same thing about Bosco Verticale when that was being built.

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

I found it! Way back in 2018, my realtor sent us the landscaping studies for the building to reassure us that the vegetation would be maintained.

These plants weren't just for the rendering. The entire building was engineered from the beginning to ensure that vegetation would get optimal solar exposure . I recall that Westbank already had a failed attempt at a vegetation clad building because it was facing the wrong direction and nothing grew on it. They cleared worked hard to ensure that doesn't happen again.


View attachment 694549

And here we have the detailed terrace planters, made in four dimensions. One of them is a full planter and we can already see some of those without a unit door access.
View attachment 694551
These three terraces have no unit access and can be used as planting beds for climbing plants. English Ivy can grow 40-50 feet and climbs on anything with less than a smooth surface. The ribbed glass blocks are suitable.

View attachment 694555

The species study shows how terraces will be used for flowers, trees and other plants that will drape over the sides.
View attachment 694550

The soffit plantings, grown under the cantilevered projections shown in these renderings....

View attachment 694554

....appear to be confirmed in what looks like irrigation infrastructure being installed on site.

Finally, the grounds landscaping are pretty straightforward. Just a series of trees along the sidewalk and in the courtyard.
View attachment 694552The landscaping was designed by Public Work. If they're still involved, then we're in for a treat.

View attachment 694553

And...

The building was computer modelled to simulate the microclimates (sun, wind, precipitation, etc.) for each balcony which determined the appropriate type of plantings. Each planter has plants selected specific for its orientation and location, so the landscape plan for each balcony will be unique. Some terraces have significantly sized planters to maintain privacy between units (vertically and horizontally).
The landscaping is probably the most thought out in any condo building, and not an afterthought like others. Part of the building is characterized by its vegetation so every measure has been taken to ensure the landscaping thrives. It would be a major costly error if they didn’t do these studies as there’s a lot of trees, vines and shrubs that will be planted here.

I remember one of the presentations Ian Gillespie said that you can look up at the building and identify your unit from the trees you have on your terrace. One of my planters will have a flowering tree which I am pretty excited to discover!

While I still have my doubts about this, thank for the taking the time to research and post the explanation here. I to hope that this will become a reality in the not too distant future. /bows

 

[RyanD]

I heard from a pretty reliable source that the greenery is happening. It has not been VE'd out.

 

[Blixtein]

Without the greenery this building will look excessively sterile. It’s a critical element.

 

[RyanD]

Took these yesterday before the snowfall. Greenery or not this building is anything but sterile!

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Without the greenery this building will look excessively sterile. It’s a critical element.

Though there is something utterly alien about it that I would almost miss when the vegetation takes over. Forget the ROM, BIG gave us a giant Bismuth crystal.

AoD

 

[Dinamo5]

Got to wonder what this building with all the trees etc will look like in the winter though?

 

[Koops65]

Didn't you see the winter render 1 page back? Post # 2531

 

[karledice]

I found it! Way back in 2018, my realtor sent us the landscaping studies for the building to reassure us that the vegetation would be maintained.

These plants weren't just for the rendering. The entire building was engineered from the beginning to ensure that vegetation would get optimal solar exposure . I recall that Westbank already had a failed attempt at a vegetation clad building because it was facing the wrong direction and nothing grew on it. They cleared worked hard to ensure that doesn't happen again.


View attachment 694549

And here we have the detailed terrace planters, made in four dimensions. One of them is a full planter and we can already see some of those without a unit door access.
View attachment 694551
These three terraces have no unit access and can be used as planting beds for climbing plants. English Ivy can grow 40-50 feet and climbs on anything with less than a smooth surface. The ribbed glass blocks are suitable.

View attachment 694555

The species study shows how terraces will be used for flowers, trees and other plants that will drape over the sides.
View attachment 694550

The soffit plantings, grown under the cantilevered projections shown in these renderings....

View attachment 694554

....appear to be confirmed in what looks like irrigation infrastructure being installed on site.

Finally, the grounds landscaping are pretty straightforward. Just a series of trees along the sidewalk and in the courtyard.
View attachment 694552The landscaping was designed by Public Work. If they're still involved, then we're in for a treat.

View attachment 694553

Great investigation work

 

[DarwinP]

I found it! Way back in 2018, my realtor sent us the landscaping studies for the building to reassure us that the vegetation would be maintained.

These plants weren't just for the rendering. The entire building was engineered from the beginning to ensure that vegetation would get optimal solar exposure . I recall that Westbank already had a failed attempt at a vegetation clad building because it was facing the wrong direction and nothing grew on it. They cleared worked hard to ensure that doesn't happen again.


View attachment 694549

And here we have the detailed terrace planters, made in four dimensions. One of them is a full planter and we can already see some of those without a unit door access.
View attachment 694551
These three terraces have no unit access and can be used as planting beds for climbing plants. English Ivy can grow 40-50 feet and climbs on anything with less than a smooth surface. The ribbed glass blocks are suitable.

View attachment 694555

The species study shows how terraces will be used for flowers, trees and other plants that will drape over the sides.
View attachment 694550

The soffit plantings, grown under the cantilevered projections shown in these renderings....

View attachment 694554

....appear to be confirmed in what looks like irrigation infrastructure being installed on site.

Finally, the grounds landscaping are pretty straightforward. Just a series of trees along the sidewalk and in the courtyard.
View attachment 694552The landscaping was designed by Public Work. If they're still involved, then we're in for a treat.

View attachment 694553

If they pull this off I’ll restore my faith in the developers of this city. Fingers crossed

 

[UrbanOzz]

Got to wonder what this building with all the trees etc will look like in the winter though?

not any worse than the rest of Toronto in peak dull winter.